Publications Archives - North Barker Ecosystem Services

Two fireweeds back from the dead: the rediscovery of Senecio longipilus and Senecio extensus from the Tasmanian Central Highlands

editor-k7xhyzjd — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 04:48:20 +0000

Senecio longipilus and Senecio extensus were rediscovered from the Tasmanian Central Highlands in late December 2019 and early January 2020, respectively. The rediscovery of S. longipilus resulted from an NBES development assessment, which precipitated a separate search for S. extensus with industry colleague Mark Wapstra.

Within Tasmania, Senecio longipilus was previously known only from a collection near Perth on the South Esk River (mid to late 1800s) and near Kingston in 1929, and Senecio extensus only from a single collection at Mackenzie Tiers from 1984.

Both species were immediately nominated for listing on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (both previously unlisted), with S. longipilus accepted for listing as vulnerable and S. extensus as endangered.

A subsequent publication detailing the rediscoveries and collection histories has been accepted and is in press with the Tasmanian Naturalist (Wapstra, Daniels and White, 2021).

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Disa paper accepted for publication

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:54:57 +0000

The collecting history of Disa bracteata Sw. (South African orchid) in Tasmania (Australia), the state’s only naturalised member of the Orchidaceae family, is presented. Details of its distribution in Tasmania, since it was first discovered in 2005, are included and discussed with information on habitat, abundance and management. The species is primarily distributed across the north coast (Smithton to Musselroe) with an outlier in Huonville in the south. Most sites are from verges of public roads and highways but the species has also been detected from inside several private properties and from less disturbed habitats. Many sites for the species have been actively managed with the objective of eradication, although some sites are now well-established and eradication will require concerted effort. It is recommended that the species be added to the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999 as a declared species with the primary objective of eradication.

Wapstra, M., Baker, M.L. & Daniels, G.D. 2021 (in press): Collecting history and distribution of the potentially invasive Disa bracteata (South African orchid) in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania v154: xx–xx. ISSN: 0080–4703.

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